1. On July 24, 1893, Butte, Montana was struck by a devastating fire that destroyed much of the downtown area. The fire began in a laundry and quickly spread to other buildings, eventually consuming over 20 city blocks before being brought under control.

2. Montana's first territorial governor, Sidney Edgerton, was born on July 24, 1818 in Cazenovia, New York. Edgerton served as governor from 1864 to 1866 and was instrumental in establishing Montana's territorial government.

3. On July 24, 1950, the Montana Highway Patrol was officially created by the state legislature. The Patrol's primary mission is to ensure highway safety by enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists in need.

4. In 1868, the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was established in northeastern Montana. The reservation covers over 2.1 million acres and is home to several Native American tribes, including the Sioux, Assiniboine, and Gros Ventre.

5. In 1983, the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman opened to the public. The museum is home to one of the world's largest collections of dinosaur fossils and is known for its extensive research on paleontology and earth sciences.